Zero admissions in 23 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu; 1.06 lakh B.Tech seats still vacant..

While the JoSAA counseling process has concluded, engineering admission processes in various states are still underway. Meanwhile, the second round of Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2026 has ended; the recently released data sheds light on current engineering admission trends across the country. According to TNEA 2026 figures, even after the second round, 23 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu recorded zero admissions. Furthermore, 1.06 lakh B.Tech seats remain vacant, including those in high-demand branches like Computer Science (CS).

Let us examine in detail the number of vacant engineering seats in Tamil Nadu, look at past admission trends in the country's engineering colleges, and understand the reasons behind these vacancies.

**Less than 10% of seats filled in 167 colleges**
TNEA 2026 data reveals that while 23 engineering colleges saw zero admissions after the second round, 167 colleges managed to fill less than 10% of their seats. Consequently, 1.06 lakh B.Tech seats across the state remain unfilled following the second round. Although further counseling rounds are scheduled—which will likely increase admission numbers—the trend of a large number of seats remaining vacant even after the second round is considered alarming.

**Vacancies in CSE and ESE seats too**
In recent years, the global demand for Computer Science Engineering (CSE) and Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) has surged. Historically, seats in these branches would fill up by the second round; however, following the TNEA 2026 second round, a significant number of CSE and ESE seats remain vacant. By the end of the second round, 17,000 CSE seats and 12,000 ESE seats had been filled. Meanwhile, over 19,000 seats in CSE and more than 13,000 seats in ESE still remain vacant.

**Waning craze for engineering in the country; 19 lakh seats vacant over 5 years**
The trend of declining admissions in engineering is not limited to Tamil Nadu alone; engineering colleges across the country have been facing a shortage of students for the past few years. In other words, the craze for engineering is steadily diminishing, resulting in 1.9 million (19 lakh) vacant seats over the last five years.

According to AICTE data, applications were invited for 6.49 million (64.9 lakh) engineering seats between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 academic sessions, yet students enrolled in only 4.55 million (45.5 lakh) seats. Consequently, more than 1.9 million seats remained vacant. Data from the Ministry of Education indicates that for the 2021-22 academic session, applications were invited for 1.253 million (12.53 lakh) engineering seats, of which 421,000 (4.21 lakh) remained vacant.

**Reasons behind the declining craze for engineering**
**Rising demand for CSE:** Admissions in other engineering branches are declining. According to statistics, 84 percent of students opted for CSE in the 2021-22 academic session, up from 63 percent five years earlier.

**Placement crisis:** Students from many engineering branches struggle to secure placements even after completing their degrees. According to the 'Data & Skills Report 2025', 94 percent of CSE students secured placements in 2024-25. In contrast, only 44 percent of Civil Engineering students and 58 percent of Electrical Engineering students secured placements.

**AI is shifting trends:** The advent of AI has also dampened the craze for engineering. The job market is transforming due to AI, causing students to avoid enrolling in traditional engineering branches. Proliferation of Engineering Colleges: The sheer number of engineering colleges is a major reason for the decline in admissions. In the early 21st century, there was a surge in the demand for engineers, while the number of engineering graduates was relatively low. Consequently, a large number of engineering colleges were established across the country; however, they are now failing to keep pace with current market demands. As a result, student enrollment in these colleges is declining.

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